Electric lamp receptacle



June 10, 1941. J. J, HOLLANDER 2,245,194

ELECTRIC LAMP RECEPTAGLE I Filed- Jan. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 10, 1941. HOLLANDER 2,245,194

' ELECTRIC LAMP REGEPTACLE' Filed Jan. 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1260620222? Lfase w JfiQZZMeZ Patented June 10, 194-1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1] 2 ELECTRIC LAMP RECEPTACLE Joseph J. Hollander, Chicago, 111.

Application January 27, 1939, Serial No. 253,041

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical connections, and more particularly, to one adapted to be used where a speedy positive connection is to be made, either permanently or temporarily, as for example when lamps are to be used for decorative devices.

Heretofore, electrical connections of a similar type have been used, but a disadvantage has been that the arrangement of parts has been such that a plurality of parts has been necessary. It is, therefore, the purpose of this invention to provide a quick electrical connection which will consist of substantially one assembled device to which the wires constituting the connection may be efficiently and immediately attached.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the character described which will enable a quick electrical connection to be made without the necessity of stripping wires and withoutthe use of tools of any kind.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in a. device of the character described means for inserting wires which will permit the insertion and subsequent positive contacting of wires of a variety of thicknesses.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described, which will include means for positively piercing and establishing contact with electrical wires inserted in a portion thereof for the purpose of establishing electrical connection.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described, which will include means for the prevention of accidental pulling out of wires inserted therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a quick electrical connection which will consist of a minimum of simple parts adapted for economical manufacture on a large scale, and which will produce a device adapted to efficiently discharge the duty for-which the same is designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily'understood and appreciated.

Referringto the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device in an open position with wires partially inserted therein;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the device in a closed position with the wires completely inserted therein;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the device with portions cut away and in section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a medial sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 'l'i of Fig. 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the upper portion of the device taken generally along the line 3--8 of Fig. 4 and in the direction of the corresponding arrows;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the top of the bottom member taken as a section along the line @--9 of Fig. 4 and in the direction of the corresponding arrows.

The device generally consists of two portions, one provided with means for attaching the connecting wires and the other providing an electrical outlet, such as shown in the present embodiment for an incandescent lamp. Said portions are connected together by' a permanentv pin which is provided at one end thereof with means for separating the two portions a small amount or bringing them together in operative arrangement, as desired by the operator.

The upper portion of the device is provided with channels and grooves for the reception of the connecting wires and has openings in its bottom face communicating with some of said channels for cooperating with pointed prongs of the bottom portion inserted therein. Said prongs serve to pierce and establish contact with wires inserted in;

portion. These members are connected electrically with the electrical outlet provided in the bottom face of the bottom portion.

Referring now to more specific details of construction and particular arrangement of parts. the reference characters I and I I. will be used to generally designate the upper portion of the present embodiment and the lower portion, respectively. Said portions I0 and II are maintained in operative arrangement by a pin memberv I2 which is fixed to the member II by means of the riveted head I3 of said pin I2 being set in the recess I4 provided in the member II, said recess beingplugged by means of the member I5. Thus, the member I I is fixed on the reduced diameter portion I9.

The pin member I2 extends through the upper member III in a sliding fit, and the protruding end is provided with the cam member I6. Said cam member I6 is pinned to the end I! of the pin member I2 by means of the pin I8, permitting rotary motion of said cam member about said pin I2. Said cam member I6 is provided with a mortised groove 20 which engages over the end II of the pin I2, said end I! acting as a tenon.

It will be noted that the cam member I6 is pinned to said tenon II eccentrically, as best shown in Fig. 6. Thus, as the arm 2I is moved clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 6, the riding portion 22 of the cam I6 is forced down against the top 23 of the member I0, causing the portions I0 and I I to come into closer proximity for purposes to be described, and also permitting the exertion of considerable force in bringing about this condition. When, on the other hand, the arm 2I of the cam member I6 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in' Fig. 6, the riding portion 22 of the cam I6 tends to leave the upper portion 23 of the member I0, allowing the same to. be moved slightly relative to the member II, permitting the withdrawal of the pinning means from the inserted wires, and the subsequent withdrawal of the wires as will presently be described.

While the embodiment shown is provided with cam means of such a nature as not to permit the complete separation of the members I0 and II, it is obvious that the means could be substituted for other means which will perform the function similarly, or which may permit the members I0 and II to be separated. In that connection, the inventor does not wish to limit himself to specific mean disclosed.

The upper member III is provided in its top surface with two openings 24 and 25, which enter into diagonal channels 26 and 21, said channels opening out to the sides of the upper members at 28 and 29 respectively. Said openings and channels are for the loose insertion and maintenance of ordinary insulated wires, as designated by the characters 40 and H. Directly, below the openings 28 and 29, transverse slots 30 and 3I are respectively formed in the member Ill, said slots being of triangular cross-section and extending substantially across the entire diameter of the member III. In the present embodiment, the channels or slots 30 and 3| extend to within a short distance of the end of the member III.

The triangular cross-sectional shape of the slots 30 and 3| is such that the base of the triangle faces the bottom portion of the member III. A plurality of openings or tubules 32 connect the face 33 of the bottom of the member I0 with the triangular sectioned slots 30 and 3|. Said tubules accommodate the sharpened prongs 34 which are fixed in the members and 88, said members being set in grooves formed therefor in the surface 21 of the member II.

When wires 40 and 4I are inserted, as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, within the'triangular slots 30 and 3|, and the members I0 and II are brought together in a manner described hereinbefore, said sharpened prongs 34 pierce the insulation of the wires 40 and H, causing electrical contact to be established therewith. If the diameter of the wire is of varied thicknesses, it will be seen how the wire is jammed up to the apex of the triangular slot and is pierced by the prongs 34. Thus, the device will accommodate wires of varying thicknesses.

The members I0 and II are constructed of an insulating material, such as Bakelite" or the like, and the prongs 34 and members 35 and 36 are of electrically conducting material. Said members 35 and 36 are held-in slots in the surface 31, as hereinbefore described, by means of the screws 38 threaded nto the bottom of the member 35, and similar screws being threaded into the members 36. Said screws entersaid members 35 and 36 by reason of their being inserted in recesses 39 formed in the bottom of the socket-like opening of the member I I. One of said recesses is enlarged for the accommodation of a conducting member 42 which connects' the member 36 with a metallic screw socket 43 inserted in the socket opening 44 for the insertion of the ferrule 45 of an incandescent electric bulb 46 therein.

Another of said recesses 39 is provided with an extension thereof 41, which accommodates a spring contact member 48, which is attached to a screw 38 in the member 35. Said spring contact 48 is adapted for contacting the tip 49 of the bulb ferrule 45 for establishing electrical contact therewith.

From the above description, it will be seen how contact is established between the wire 40 and the tip 49, and between the wire H and the ferrule 45, establishing a positive electrical contact therebetween, said connection being made quickly, positively and entirely without tools.

The invention has been shown embodied in a device providing a quick connection with an electrical socket, but it is obvious that same could be adapted for use in any of a variety of other ways, such as outlets, adapters, and the like.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, an upper body portion and a lower body portion, said lower body portion being provided with contacting means for contacting electricaldevices associated therewith, piercing means electrically connected with said contacting means, said piercing means comprising a plurality of pointed members spaced from one another set into said lower body portion and protruding from the upper end thereof, said upper portion being provided with means for the insertion of wires therein and means for causing the piercing .acter described, comprising means for inserting electrical wires in a member and means for piercing said wires and causing contact to be made between same and an electrical device adapted to be associated with said member, means for the prevention ofsaid wires from being withdrawn from said inserting means, said withdrawal prevention means consisting of a channel in said member disposed at an angle to each of said inserting means and adapted to have one of said wires pass therethrough before entering such inserting means, said insertingmeans'and said channel being entirely disconnected from one another.

3. In combination with a device of the character described, comprising means for inserting electrical wires in a member and means for piercing said wires and causing contact to be made between the same and an electrical device adapted to be associated with said member, means for adapting said inserting means to receive wire of variabl sizes, consisting of providing said inserting means vwith a substantially triangular shape cross sectional channel, the base of said channel including means for the insertion of said piercing means to pierce wires inserted in said channels.

JOSEPH J. HOILANDER. 

